WINDHOEK – The governor of the Khomas Region, Laura Mcleod-Katjirua, together with the Turkish Ambassador to Namibia, Deniz Cakar received a delegation from the Turkish Cooperation Coordination agency who came to visit the self-supporting Penduka Recreation Centre. “This visit came about after I have sat down with the new Turkish Ambassador to Namibia last year when she just got here and during our discussion I asked her in terms of developmental projects, how would she come in and she said, no, she is going to have a delegation of business people who are going to come from Turkey and if I have a project I can propose to her as I can. So then I eventually proposed Penduka since they are viable, productive and focused,” said the governor. She further added that from the look of things the delegates are impressed with what they have seen and will look at discussing how the centre can benefit from the visit and how the Turks can come on board in terms of capacity building, marketing, as well as any other assistance. “We are hands-on to developing our relationship with Namibia in every field, today we came with the delegation, who came to visit Namibia upon the invitation of the Turkish Embassy, they are from the Turkish Cooperation Coordination Agency that provides different assistance, aid and capacity building,” Turkish Ambassador to Namibia Deniz Cakar, said.
According to her they are happy to have visited an NGO that is self-sustaining, self-made and they will see how they can offer their support together with the delegates, as well as assist Namibia in capacity building in any field where there is a need. Penduka is a project in Windhoek with different production departments and they have an on-site production plant. They create Batik designs, embroidery, pottery, beads and jewellery, as well as wire and bead craft, including community-based tourism and also look after TB patients. In a related development the governor also officiated at a vehicle donation ceremony at A. Shipena Secondary School yesterday. The vehicle was donated by A. Shipena’s German partners – “Schiller Gymanasium” a school in Münster, Germany. The event was attended by the officials from the office of the governor, teachers and learners, as well as some German delegates. The governor urged the school to take good care of the donated vehicle.
By John Muyamba